Science Behind Closed Doors: On the Protection of the National Scientific Capability

The dissemination of data and the circulation of scientists are widely regarded as pivotal factors in the advancement of science. However, several countries, including the European Union, Canada and the United States, have recently adopted restrictive policies designed to protect scientific results against the risks of economic espionage, hostile military use or terrorist diversion. This article examines the legal frameworks that have been implemented in France to protect the nation's 'scientific and technological capability'. The French approach encompasses the establishment of restricted zones (ZRR), comprising three constituent elements: the creation of protected areas, the restriction of access to these areas, and the limitation of data circulation. This has resulted in a fragmentation of scientific communities, based on ‘communities of trust’ that are seeking to restore conditions favourable to the production of scientific knowledge in restricted and controlled areas. The article illustrates the resurgence of a legal framework for scientific research centred on national interests, suggesting a possible retreat in the openness of science.